PM sees major investment in Macclesfield’s AZ site

7 Apr 2021 11:12
Published by: Scott Callan

Picture credit to AstraZenica

 

PRIME Minister Boris Johnson visited pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca’s Macclesfield site to see the company’s £380million investment in the operation.

He was shown round the company’s Medicines Manufacturing and Development campus during his visit.

The investment covers new advanced medicines manufacturing and packing facilities at the campus for oncology therapy Zoladex, and a new global medicines packaging centre which ships more than 50 medicines to 130 countries.

The campus is a critical part of the company’s global operations and the new investment is helping boost manufacturing on site and the work of its highly skilled team.

The Prime Minister said: “The UK is renowned as a world leader in scientific research and development, but we’re also a pioneer in advanced manufacturing as shown by this £380minvestment from AstraZeneca in a state-of-the-art facility.

“AstraZeneca is rightly known for its production of a life-saving coronavirus vaccine, but millions of patients also benefit from other medicines made right here in Macclesfield seven days a week.

“Today I met some of the highly skilled team and saw them producing vital cancer treatments and other medicines for people in the UK and around the world.

“This investment is a key part of our ambition to make the UK the global life sciences superpower.

“British life sciences are leading the way in the battle against COVID. Now we have the opportunity to harness those talents against other diseases, such as cancer, and to secure jobs and investment in the process.”

Construction work on the new facilities has continued at pace. Fitting out the complex manufacturing processes will take another two years.

The PM also spoke to AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot, who joined the visit by video call, and heard about the company’s ‘Ambition Zero Carbon’ project to eliminate carbon emissions from its operations by 2025.

AstraZeneca’s Macclesfield campus is the largest pharmaceuticals manufacturing site in the United Kingdom.

It is home to a team of almost 4,000 highly skilled staff who are not only involved in value-added advanced manufacturing of medical treatments, including the prostate cancer therapy Zoladex, but also packing, logistics and the development of new medical treatments.

The site also makes a major contribution to AstraZeneca’s and the UK’s export performance.

Macclesfield MP David Rutley joined the Prime Minister during the visit, which was initially planned to announce the investment last March but was postponed because of the first lockdown.

Mr Rutley said: “Locally, we are all very proud of the many people that work at the site and for the contribution that they make to improving the lives of millions of patients around the world.

“The campus is the jewel in the crown of our local economy and plays a vital role in the Cheshire Science Corridor.

“I am very grateful to the Prime Minister for recognising the team’s important work and this major investment during his visit.”

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